NBC News and Three Part Media LLC today launched The Grio (www.TheGrio.com), a video-centric news site devoted to stories and perspectives that appeal to the African American community. The announcement was made by NBC News Senior Vice President Adam Jones.

TheGrio.com uses the vast resources of NBC News, including owned and operated stations, affiliate stations, and msnbc.com, as well as the nation's leading newspapers and websites, to aggregate pertinent video and written content for the site. The Grio also features original video packages, news articles, and blogs on a variety of topics including breaking news, politics, health, business, faith, and entertainment. Contributors to TheGrio.com include Rev. Al Sharpton, Melissa Harris-Lacewell, and Santita Jackson. The site dives deeper into stories of black interest that mainstream news outlets currently only touch on.

"Coinciding with the 40th anniversary of the assassination of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in April 2008, NBC News premiered "Meeting David Wilson," the remarkable and inspiring story of a young man's reconciliation with his ancestors' history as slaves. In building this partnership, David Wilson demonstrated an articulate, passionate and inquiring mind committed to serving the needs of his community," said Adam Jones. "This collaboration led to the idea of leveraging NBC News resources and David's editorial talents to create a daily news website that would target the interests and concerns of African American consumers."

"TheGrio.com is the first video-centric news community site devoted to providing African-Americans with stories and perspectives that appeal to them but are underrepresented in existing national news outlets," said The Grio Managing Editor and Founding Member of Three Part Media David Wilson. "TheGrio.com's goal is to be the biggest and most reliable aggregator, producer, and distributor of black news online."

Ford Motor Company has signed on to exclusively sponsor The Grio during its launch phase.

"Joining on as an exclusive sponsor of this innovative news platform allows us to share the great news about Ford products within a medium that directly speaks to the African American consumer," said Crystal Worthem, Multicultural Marketing Manager, Ford Motor Company. "We partnered with the founders of TheGrio.com on 'Meeting David Wilson' in 2008 and knew that the new digital product would be of the same quality, authentic and innovative which aligns with the Ford brand."